Chapter 597: The Cause of the Matter
"Why is the Emperor suddenly so concerned about the Eighth Prince? He even mobilized men from the Grand Council Garrison," Prince Changyang said, utterly bewildered.
For a moment, the hall was filled with nothing but the sound of weeping and pensive silence. No one could figure out the reason for any of it.
"COUGH, COUGH..."
A cough rang out. Ying Ge entered, supporting Luo Wen, with Du Yi following behind.
When Zhan Yi saw that Luo Wen was conscious, he rushed over and grabbed him. "Luo Wen, you’re her Hidden Guard. Tell me what in the world happened."
"Someone sent a fake letter to the Eighth Prince, luring him out of the palace," Du Yi said.
"Who?"
"It was people from East Shu. The day the Eighth Prince suddenly disappeared, I found a note in the courtyard. The Young Lady was in the palace that day. After she read the note, she rushed out of the palace to find the Eighth Prince."
"East Shu? What’s your proof?" Prince Changyang demanded.
"We saw the Princess of East Shu, the Prince Consort, and the East Shu Royal Hidden Guards on the mountain with our own eyes. That day..." Luo Wen proceeded to recount everything he knew.
A brief silence followed his account, and all eyes turned to the young woman lying there.
Her left shoulder, visible from beneath the white sheet, was a mangled ruin of flesh and blood. Her entire body was covered in wounds, while the Eighth Prince was practically unharmed. And yet, the Emperor had still said those things.
"For East Shu to dare commit murder so close to the Capital City—they clearly have no regard for Beili!" Prince Helian raged.
"I will go to the palace at once to report this to the Emperor. Ye Qianning should be recognized for her service in protecting the Eighth Prince. This twisting of the truth is utterly chilling," Prince Changyang declared, turning and striding out the door.
"I will go with you," Prince Helian said, immediately following him.
Dean Chen and the others were heartbroken and furious. ’Utterly chilling?’
’It was more than chilling. Zhan Chi’s words may have been harsh, but he wasn’t wrong. Can a nation like Beili truly have a future?’
’She escaped an assassination attempt by East Shu, only to be killed by the soldiers of her own country. How utterly absurd.’
"Yuan Yintang," Madam Zhan said, her soft voice sharp with malice. "The Zhan family demands his life."
"My lady, rest assured. He will die, and the one behind him will not have an easy time of it either." Something seemed to occur to Zhan Yi. "Men! Bring the ruffians who started the fire on Four-direction Mountain to the front courtyard. I will interrogate them myself."
「Beili Imperial Palace.」
Sang Zhi had fallen unconscious on the way back to the palace and hadn’t awoken for more than half the day.
Upon returning to the palace, the Beili Emperor had the unconscious Sang Zhi taken directly to his personal palace. This move stunned the court concubines and all the princes—even the Empress was shocked.
’Doesn’t the Emperor despise the Eighth Prince more than anyone?’
’Why the sudden attentiveness? No prince has ever rested in the Emperor’s bedchambers, not even the favored Crown Prince.’
Aside from Consort Yuan, no one knew the reason.
When Consort Yuan heard that Sang Zhi had returned to the palace safe and sound, she was indescribably furious. In her eyes, Ye Qianning was an insignificant pawn; there were a thousand ways to crush someone like her.
Her primary target on Four-direction Mountain had been Sang Zhi. The secret he held would be the greatest obstacle for the Crown Prince.
"Your Ladyship, should we go and see?" a palace maid asked.
"Let’s go. I want to see for myself how the Emperor intends to take his eyes." Consort Yuan led the palace maid out of her bedchambers.
Inside Dragon and Qilin Hall, a dozen or so Imperial Physicians were lined up, each taking the Eighth Prince’s pulse in turn.
"What is his condition?" the Beili Emperor asked.
An Imperial Physician stood up and hurriedly knelt. "Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince has only sustained external injuries. There is no serious damage to his body."
"Then why is he still not awake?"
"The Eighth Prince’s comatose state was brought on by a great fright."
"When will he awaken?"
"That... this humble servant cannot say."
The Beili Emperor’s eyes narrowed. "What good are you, then? Get out."